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Orionids Peak Oct. 22–23 With Dark Skies Boosting Pre-Dawn Viewing

These streaks come from Halley's Comet debris, with activity expected to vary from a few to about 20 per hour depending on conditions.

Overview

  • NASA-cited reports place the Orionids’ maximum on the nights of Oct. 22–23, visible from both hemispheres, including Argentina and Mexico.
  • Viewing is best from midnight to dawn, with an optimal window near 3:00 a.m.; in Mexico, guidance points to 1:00–5:30 a.m., ideally 3:00–4:30 a.m.
  • A nearby new moon improves darkness for fainter meteors, which enter the atmosphere at roughly 62–66 km/s.
  • Expected rates differ by source, from about 5–6 meteors per hour in very dark areas to 10–20 per hour under optimal skies per Star Walk.
  • A separate, low-activity Leonis Minorids peak follows on Oct. 24 with roughly two meteors per hour, favoring northern observers.